Drier.



No. 692,750. .Patgnted Feb. 4, I902. v

- T.- s. WILE S.

DRIER.

(Application filed. Aug. 28, 1901.) I

(No Model.) 2 sheets -simt 2.

a" I E jmmlllll m WITNESSES.-

nection with the particular structure UNITED ST TES PAT NT OF ICE.

THOMAS WVILES, OF ALBANY, NElV YORK.

DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,750, dated February4, 1902.

Application filed August 28, 1901. Serial No. 73 ,624. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LTHoMAs S. WILES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Albany, in the county of Albany, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Driers, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to laundry-driers, and more particularly toimprovements upon the construction of parts shown in my prior patent,No. 314,500, dated March 24, 1885, although the application of theinvention is not limited to use in laundry-driers orin conshown in saidpatent.

The invention has for an object to provide animproved' construction ofbearings and running-gear for the drying-frame whereby there shall be nobearing-surface or runninggear at the top of or over the frame withinthe room or compartment.

It has been found that where a trackor bearing-surface in the upper partof the drying-room is employed with running-gear attached to the upperportion of the dryingframe the frictional contact between the frame andthe track upon which it is carried or guided and between the wheels ofthe running-gear and their bearings grinds or wears away smallparticlesof the material of the tracks and running-gear, which, fallingupon the articles supported by the frame or adjacent frames, cause saidarticles to be discolored. It is an important object in this class ofinventions to prevent any such discoloration of the goods being dried,and the .present invention therefore provides a structure in which thebearings and running-gear within the room are entirely at the lowerportion thereof and below the articles upon the frame, while the trackor bearing and running-gear for the front portion of the frame areoutside of the drying-room, in such position that any particles droppingtherefrom will not fall on goods suspended on the frame or frames.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bearing at the lowerend of the frame within the room constructed to prevent or minimizelateral movement of the frame and also to prevent the wheels whichsupport the frame within the dry-room from leaving the tracks upon whichthey travel when pressure is applied at the front of the-frame forwithdrawing from or returning the same into the drying-room.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention will hereinafter appear inthe following description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal sectionwith the frame partially removed from the drying-room. Fig. 2 is anelevation of the exterior of the drying-room with part in verticalcross-section. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of the runninggear for thelower portion of the frame. Fig. 4 is a detail in vertical section onthe line 44 of Fig. 1, showing this running-gear. Fig. 5 is an endelevation of a modified form of running-gear for the lower portion ofthe frame embodying a roller disposed between opposite tracks. Fig. 6 isa side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detailsimilar to Fig. 5 of a further modified form embodying a track disposedbetween opposite rollers, andFig. 8 is a sideelevation 0f the partsshown in Fig. 7.

Like letters of reference indicatelike parts throughout the severalfigures of the draw-' ings.

In the application of the invention herein illustrated the parts areshown in connection with a structure of frame, drying room, and castingssubstantially as shown inmy prior patent, No. 314,500; but the inventionis ca:

pable of application to other and different v forms of dryingapparatuses and is not confined to the particular application hereshown.

In the drawings the letter A designates a drying-room, heated bysteam-pipes or other suitable means and of any desired dimensions, whichis provided at its front portion with a series of openings A ofsubstantially the dimension of the front end of the frame B which isadapted to be located within this room or compartment. At the upperportion of the frame and above the opening A, outside of the room orcompartment, a track or rail A of any suitable construction, issupported in any desired mannerfor instance, at one end on the frontwall of the room and at its other end by a suitable hanger A dependingfrom any fixed support. The lower portion of the drying-room A hasarranged therein a track or rail, as shown at A which, if preferred, maybe a T- rail, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, supported above the base of theroom by means of blocks or standards A, by which a space is provided forthe introduction of steam-pipes or other heating means heneath the railsA The frame, as before stated, is substantially of the constructionshown in my prior patent and is composed of the opposite end walls B,having longitudinal bars B extending between the same, upon which barsthe articles or goods to be dried are supported. These walls B areconnected together at their upper and lower ends by means of tie-bars 13which are adapted to fit and to be secured at one end in a casting O,bolted to one of the end walls B by means of a flange 0, provided forthat purpose. The casting O is duplicated at the diagonally oppositecorner of the frame. The opposite end of the tie-rod B, at the upperportion of the frame, is secured in a casting D, substantially similarto that illustrated in my former patent, which casting is provided witha securing-flange D and an upwardly-extending forked bracket D withinwhich a bearing-wheel D is suitably journaled and adapted to travel uponthe track or rail A at the upper end of the frame and outside of theroom A.

At the diagonally opposite lower corner of the frame a casting E issuitably secured by means of a plate E, adapted to be bolted to the endwall B, so as to provide an extended bearing for the lower inner end ofthe frame. This casting E is provided at opposite ends with lugs Eprojecting posteriorly therefrom, within which the journal E for thebearing-wheels E is suitably supported. These wheels are each providedupon the side adjacent to the lugs with a flange E which is adapted toengage the inner edge of the T- rail A while the tread of the wheelbears upon the upper face of said rail. Within the said lugs E and at apoint beneath the wheels E a shaft E is suitably journaled and providedat its opposite ends with guard-rollers E arranged to engage the underface of the head of the rail A thereby preventing any vertical movementof the wheels E from said rail when the frame is withdrawn or replacedwithin the room, while the flanges E of the wheels securely hold theframe at such times against lateral movement.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a modified form of gearing adapted to support theinner lower corner of the frame upon a track arranged below the frameand inside of the dry-room. In this form there is employed a casting F,similar to the casting E, adapted to be secured to the lower corner ofthe frame and having brackets F F for the support of a wheel F having ateach side a peripheral flange F while the track comprises a pair ofT-rails F", the upper rail being inverted and both arranged in a commonvertical plane, one above and one below the wheel F It will readily beseen that the Wheel F will ride upon the lower railand that the upperrailand the flanges embracing the edges of both rails will retain thewheel in operative relation with the track as well as to maintain theinner end of the frame in a vertical position.

Figs. 7 and 8 show still another form of gearing which is adapted to besecured to the same point of the frame and to perform the same functionsas the forms heretofore described. In this modification the wheels areduplicated and an I-beam is utilized as a track, one wheel running uponthe top of the track and the other coacting with the lower surface. Thecasting G is similar to the castings E and F and is provided withbrackets G, in which are journaled the flanged wheels G G spaced toembrace the I-beam or track G.

From the foregoing description the construction and operation of theseveral parts will be clearly apparent, and it will be further seen thatall danger of discoloration of the articles upon the drying-frames isavoided by removing from the room the bearing or track at the upperportion thereof, which, as before stated, grinds and wears away smallparticles of dust and dirt, and if made of iron becomes rusty and smallparticles thereof are deposited upon the articles and cause stains,which are diilicult to remove, requiring arewashing of the articles. Itwill furthermore be seen that the particular construction ofroller-bearing for the inner ends of the frame is an importantimprovement in this class of inventions, as it secures a broad bearingat opposite sides, thereby preventing any lateral tilting of the framewhen the same if withdrawn or replaced in the room, which, is occurring,would throw the frame into confact with an adjacent one or displace thetraveling rollers frotn the track. The structure. of these wheels andthe rollers beneath the rail-head also guards against any lateral orvertical movement of the inner end of the frame when the same is pushedinto place or withdrawn from the room. Such displacement is very liableto occur, as the operators frequently carelessly push upon the frame atone side or the other of its front wall instead of in a direct line,thus producing a sidewise swing upon the single roller at the front ofthe frame, which will throw the rear rollers off the track unless thesame are properly guarded.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made by persons skilledin the art involved which would secure the absence of any support withand at the top of the compartment, and such changes could involve thesubstitution of the well-known mechanical equivalent frame-supportingmeans without a departure from the invention as specified in theappended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- ITO 1. A driercomprisinga compartment, a frame adapted to travel therein, a supportfor the front end of said frame arranged wholly outside of saidcompartment, and a support for the rear end of said frame arrangedWithin said compartment and below the frame; substantially as specified.

2. A drier comprising acompartment, a frame adapted to travel therein, asupport for the front part of said frame arranged wholly outside of saidcompartment, a sup port for the rear part of said frame constitute ingits only bearing within the compartment andcomprising a track arrangedwithin said A compartment and below said frame, and gearing operativelyconnecting the rear part of said. frame with said track; substantiallyas specified.

3. .Adrier-frame comprising end walls, end- Wall-connecting bars,.and'frame-supporting devices comprising a single suspending-rollerhaving one upper bearing-point at one corner.

of the frame and a frame-carrying support having morethan onebearing-point at the diagonally opposite corner; substantially asspecified.

4. A drier comprising a compartment, a frame adapted to travel therein,a support forthe front part of saiclfralne, arranged wholly outside ofsaid compartment, and a support for the rear part of said frame com-:

prising a track located within said compartment and below said frame,and rotatable gearinghaving opposite points of contact with said track;substantially as specified.-

'5. .Adrier comprising a compartment, a frame adapted to travel therein,a support for said frame at its upper end at the outside of saidcompartment, oppositely-located bearing-wheels having flanges andadapted toride upon rails at the lower portion of said compartment, andguard.- rollers beneath said wheels adapted to engage-the under surfaceof theheads of said rails; substantially as specified.

.6. A drier comprising a compartment, a frame adapted to travel therein,asupport for the front part of said frame at the outsideof saidcompartment, gearing adapted to ride upon rails at the lower portion ofsaid compartment, and means adapted to engage the under surface of theheads of said rails to keep said gearing upon said track; substantiallyas specified.

7. .A drier comprising a compartment, a frame adapted to travel therein,a support for the upper front part of said frame arranged outside ofsaid compartment, oppositely-located bearing-Wheels having flangesconnected with the lower rear'wall of said frame and tracks for-saidWheels at the'lower portion of said compartment and below said frame;substantially as specified.

8. A driercomprising a compartment,-rails located atihe lower portionthereof, a sup porting-track at the upper portion of said compartmentand outside of the same, aframe provided at its front upper corner witha roller-bearing adapted to travel upon said upper track,'andbearing-wheels carried bythe lower rear corner of said frame and adaptedto travel along tracks Within said compartment; substantially asspecified.

9. A-drier comprising a compartment,tracks located at the lower portionthereof, a supportingtrack at the upper portion of said compartment andoutside of the same, a frame provided with a roller-bearing adapted totravel upon said upper track, and oppositely- Y disposed bearing-wheelshaving flanges adapted to engage the edges of said lower tracks toprevent lateral movement of the frame; substantially as specified.

10. A drier. comprising a compartment,.

flanged'rails located at the .lower portion thereof, a supporting-railat the upper portion of :said: compartment and outside of the same, aframe provided with a roller-bearing adapted to travel upon said upperrail, oppositely-disposed bearing-wheels having-flanges upon their innersides adapted to engage thev edges of the flange of said lower rails toprevent lateral movementof the frame, androtatable rollers beneath eachof' said bearingwheels adapted toengage an undersurface of the rail;substantially as specified.

11. :A roller-bearingfor a drier-frame comprising ,a securing-plateprovided With a frame-seaton one face, lugs extending from theopposi-teface thereof, a shaft journaled in said lugsand carrying flangedbearing.

wheels, and means opposite said wheels for preventing vertical movementof the Wheels upon the tracks; substantially as specified.

12.- A roller-bearing for a drier-frame comprising a securing-plate,lugs extending from the opposite ends thereof, a shaft journaled in saidlugs and carrying-at opposite endsbearing-wheels having flanges upontheir",

faces'next to said lugs, and an additional shaft journaled in said lugsbeneath'said wheel-shaft and carrying at opposite ends guard-rollers;substantially as specified.-

Intestimony whereof in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

t J; BEVERSTOOK,

WM. D. SHOEMAKER.

, THOMAS s. WILEs.

IIO

aflix my signature"

